Well, here we are. Sorry it took so long for the update. I was kind of stumped on this next chapter for a while, but when inspiration hit it was like BOOM and I couldn't write it down fast enough. I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you so much for waiting so patiently.
Chapter 9
Anakin and Padme looked at each other in worry. They had nowhere to run. They could only hide. They couldn't risk being found out yet so they hid in Pooja's closet.
"Don't let him know we're here," Padme begged Pooja in a quiet whisper before closing the door until there was only a crack for her and Anakin to peak through.
The old woman looked at the closet startled before her bedroom door opened, drawing her attention away from the Skywalkers. Padme watched as Pooja's changed to a delighted expression as Gregor Panaka appeared.
Through the crack Padme could only see Lieutenant Panaka's back as he passed the closet door and kneeled down to hug Pooja. It was cramped in the closet with all the clothing in it, and Anakin was pressing against her, trying to look over her shoulder through the crack.
Pooja was smiling as she hugged the lieutenant. "It's so good to see you, Gregor. If I had known you'd be coming for a visit I would have cancelled my appointments today," she said as they seperated.
Padme couldn't see Lieutenant Panaka's face, but she suspected that he was smiling. "I just felt the need to see you today. These last several days have been hell."
Padme saw Pooja's smiling face turn into instant concern. "Is everything alright? Goodness me, Tapolo hasn't been causing more trouble has he? I swear the new members of the Royal Council are a bunch of brainless voorpacks to allow him to stay in office," Pooja's voice was laced with annoyance, bitterness, and a little sadness.
Gregor shook his head. "Thankfully no. Tapolo hasn't been causing any trouble for a while.
Relief filled Pooja's face. "Well that's a relief. Oh, do sit down, Gregor. You look worn out."
The lieutenant sat down in a chair near her.
Anakin tried to watch through the crack a bit, but struggled to balance in not pushing into Padme and falling backwards into the clothing.
"The woman at the front counter told me you were receiving visitors?" Gregor asked. Anakin and Padme could hear the suspicion in his tone. "Your great-niece and her husband?"
Pooja laughed. "Oh, Gregor. I know I'm considered old for a handmaiden, but I'm not old enough to have a great-niece yet. Although, I did see the Queen and Captain just a few minutes ago. The Queen dismissed us so that she could discuss the security details for this summer in private if you know what I mean." There was a mischievous tint in her voice.
Padme wasn't sure if it was Pooja's memory loss or if she was such a great actress, but she was grateful that Pooja hadn't revealed anything to the retired guard.
"The nurse said family was visiting you. Are you alright?" Lieutenant Panaka asked.
"Oh, of course I'm alright, Gregor. My ex may be an abusive son of a bantha to me, but he would never harm me in front of our daughter, and certainly not in front of my mother. I was just so happy he let me see my little girl. She's grown up so much..." Pooja carried on.
It seemed that she was living in a different time period as she talked. Anakin could sense a lot of feelings from the old lieutenant, but it was mostly concern. The man cared a great deal for the old woman despite her amnesiac condition and was worried for her. He remembered Panaka mentioning during the funeral of being friends with Ryoo's sister Padme Lydonia. Lydonia had been friends with both Pooja and Panaka so that explained some things. However, if he was here and worried about Pooja maybe he knew more about what Malorum was really after. He refocused his attention when Pooja brought up the name Padme.
"She's been so stressed lately. I know she's about to graduate and she's worrying about finals and of course Lady Dragon isn't being very helpful, but I would have thought spending time with Sheev would have helped would have helped her being more… carefree. He seems to always bring a smile to her face," Pooja said.
Anakin felt his eyes widened the same time he felt a flash of anger and hatred in Panaka.
Sheev. That had to be the name of Lydonia's secret boyfriend.
"Sheev's not the good boy you think he is, Pooja," Panaka coldly stated. "Far from it."
"Oh, Gregor, don't tell me you're judging the poor boy based on his father's actions. It's not his fault," Pooja told him.
Anakin's eyes narrowed. Gregor didn't correct Pooja of the timeline she was actually in, but Anakin could sense his frustration in her not understanding what time he was in. He didn't want to upset her, but what was it he was trying to talk to her about?
Anakin heard Panaka sigh before he got up with a painful grunt. "Well, it was good to see you again, Pooja. I just wanted to see if you were doing well and nobody had come here to harm you," he said.
"Harm me?" Pooja squawk in alarm. "Whatever for? I am a simple handmaiden of Her Highness. I have her ear, but I simply guard and serve her. Nothing more."
Gregor patted her arm comfortingly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have alarmed you, but things are no longer safe here in Theed. I don't know when it will be again."
Anakin looked down at Padme to see what she thought of this, but her eyes were focused on Gregor and Pooja.
A knock sounded on the door, startling all the occupants in the room. It opened to reveal a nurse. "Madame Janren, it's time for lunch."
"I'll take you to the cafeteria before I leave," Gregor volunteered, steering Pooja's hoverchair out of her bedroom.
"Thank you, Gregor. You will visit again soon won't you?"
"I most certainly will," Gregor promised.
They left the room with the nurse. When the bedroom door closed, Padme and Anakin finally stepped out of the cramp closet.
What were they to make of all this?
000{{*}}000
Yane was called by her mother for a family emergency, leaving Anakin and Padme on their own in the streets of Theed. Padme made sure her hood hid her face as Stormtroopers passed by while she and Anakin walked down the streets of Theed. She could remember when she was young walking down these same streets with her family, skipping with her sister Sola as the sun shined on her face. Now, she walked them fearfully with her husband, hoping that no one would recognize them.
Anakin was worried also as they walked. He couldn't believe how many Stormtroopers there were, and even more to his surprise how many he recognized. Clones were all identical to normal civilians, but Anakin had fought side-by-side with them for years to be able to tell the difference between them. He recognized members from the 104th battalion and even some from the 212th. He hoped they wouldn't run into anyone under the 501st. He also hoped that his disguise would keep him hidden in the crowds. So far it seemed to be working, but Anakin couldn't wait till they were back in the Lasara house.
"I'm sorry we couldn't get anything out of Pooja," Anakin said to Padme.
"I know, Anakin. I knew there was a small chance that she would have been able to tell us something, but I still hoped…" Padme trailed. She felt like she kept hitting a wall and coming no closer to finding out why her grandmother had been killed.
"I was a little surprised to see Lieutenant Panaka there," Anakin admitted as they entered the market area filled with carts of food, clothing, and other items despite the cold weather.
"He mentioned being friends with my great-aunt at my grandmamma's funeral. He could have been a mutual friend with Pooja through her. They were also members of Queen Celestine's security, so it would have made sense if they were close friends," Padme reminded him.
Her mind kept thinking over what Pooja had said to her before Panaka came in. Secrets. Her aunt had apparently died because she knew the secrets of some very powerful people. Padme could understand that. When she was queen then senator she had discovered some important secrets that were worth killing over. What secrets had her aunt known that would be so important to Palpatine today? Padme's eyes widened as she remembered something her grandmamma had once told her.
"Ani, I think I know why Malorum wants-" she cut off when she and Anakin saw several yards ahead of them Captain Panaka, her former chief of security ordering Stormtroopers to search the area.
Anakin grabbed her hand, and they squeezed through carts and hurried down an alleyway. Anakin saw a side door and immediately opened it and they went in.
The two of them realized that they had gone into a bar with some of Theed's few criminals and offworlders.
Padme recognized some of them as bounty hunters and realized that they had gone from the frying pan and into the oven.
"Stay calm," Anakin whispered in her ear, even though he was a little nervous himself as they walked further into the bar. He thought he recognized Cad Bane in the corner sipping a beverage. Word must have gotten out really fast that Anakin Skywalker was on Naboo. If he was honest, he was surprised there weren't more bounty hunters in here given the price the Empire was asking for him. Although, it was early afternoon, maybe the other bounty hunters were out hunting.
"Ani," Padme whispered nudging her head toward the bar counter.
Anakin recognized their pilot Karrde with a bottle of Corellian whiskey.
Sensing eyes on him, the smuggler turned around and saw them. At first he squinted his eyes wondering where he'd seen them, but then he smirked, beckoning with his head for them to join him. Anakin and Padme came over and sat down next to him, Anakin keeping an eye out for all the bounty hunters in the room.
"Wasn't expecting to run into you during your stay until we leave… Senator." Even though he spoke in a volume too low for anyone else to hear, Padme reached into her cloak where she's hidden her blaster, and Anakin where he hid his lightsaber.
"Relax both of you," Karrde told them. "As nice as that bounty is on either of your heads, we had a deal. However, given that we're in a bar of bounty hunters and how much trouble you two get into, I value my skin a lot more than thirteen thousand."
Anakin sighed. He was not in the mood to be dealing with this.
Padme seemed exasperated too, but she hid it well. "If we don't pay you more will you leave without us?"
Karrde took a swig of his whiskey. "Nothing personal. I actually like you two, and I also like danger, but if you want to court her you got to be smart about it. Just talking to you here right now is making me the target for interrogation with bounty hunters."
Padme's heart plummeted. He was right. He was risking his life just talking to them in front of so many criminals.
Karrde continued, "I've also realized that I'm your only safe transport off this planet, so if you guys want me to stay for four more days and risk my neck you better make it worth it for me."
Padme thought about her bag of jewels. She didn't know if she would need them again if the time came she and Anakin would have to leave Tatooine again with her children, and it was important to have emergency credits on them. However he was right. He was their only way off Naboo.
"Would raising it to twenty thousand persuade you?" she asked. She felt Anakin's eyes on her, but ignored him.
Karrde thought for a moment before setting his bottle down. "Alright, but I'm going to have to lay somewhere low. You still got the commlink?"
Padme nodded.
"Good. Time comes hit the beacon and I'll find you," he said.
"What if they capture you?" Anakin asked.
Karrde shook his head. "The beacons are a one way only. You guys will have to activate it for me in order to find you."
That didn't make Anakin feel confident. "Then you better not get caught," he told Karrde.
Karrde put his hands up. "I may not be as wanted as you two, but I've been on the run from the law and scum since I can remember. I know a few tricks. You guys try not to get caught before I get paid." With that he got up and left the bar.
Anakin looked around the bar more closely to see Dangar and Bossk looking in his and Padme's direction.
"Time for us to leave as well," he whispered.
He and Padme got up and began to head towards the door when a rodian stepped in their way, pointing a blaster at them and causing them to stop in their tracks.
Anakin recognized him as Greedo, one of his childhood bullies back when he had been a slave on Tatooine.
"Leaving so soon? You didn't even buy yourselves a drink," the rodian said, amused.
Anakin shrugged, trying to act nonchalant as everyone's eyes locked on him and Padme. "I just found out: they don't sell my favorite drink here," he replied. So Greedo had grown up and become a bounty hunter. Huh. Anakin never thought he had enough brains to do that.
"What's your hurry?" a voice hissed from behind them.
Anakin recognized it as the trandoshian bounty hunter Bossk. From the corner of his eye, he saw Cad Bad relaxing at his table just watching all this without a care.
"I'm sure you and the lady can enjoy something in here," Bossk told him
"We'll have ourselves a little appetizer until the Imperials come in and give us our money," Greedo said, motioning towards the table next to them to sit.
It was a tight spot: Anakin couldn't reach his lightsaber in his boot fast enough to protect Padme in a room full of bounty hunters, but he did remember some bits of Greedo from their childhood that could come in handy. Anakin squeezed his wife's hand reassuringly as they sat down, Greedo still pointing the blaster at them and Bossk standing right behind them.
"You're so certain the Empire will pay you the full bounty on us?" Padme questioned, distracting Greedo and hopefully the others as Anakin discreetly nudged his lightsaber out using the Force.
"Given how desperate the Emperor seems to be wanting you both, he'd be a fool not to pay it. Be bad for business," Greedo said.
"She's right," Anakin said. The lightsaber was out and in his hands. He was careful not to let anyone see it. He continued, "The Empire's not like the Republic or Jabba. They're most likely to just grab us and shoot you. I thought you'd be smart by now, Greedo."
"Shut up, Skywalker," Greedo snapped at him. "You forget I have a blaster pointing at you two and a trandoshian behind you."
"Yeah, speaking of which," Anakin said, looking behind him at Bossk. "He splitting the bounty evenly with you? Sounds to me you should be getting more with your reputation."
Bossk shifted a bit. "He does have a point."
"Now, wait a minute. We had a deal," Greedo said, his blaster wavering a little.
Anakin inwardly smirked. He continued talking, "Did you know that I used to know him back when we were knee high? He always liked picking on people he thought were beneath him, but when it came to dealing with bigger kids he grovel at their feet."
"That's not true!" Greedo shouted, shoving the blaster in Anakin's face.
He could feel Padme's worry, but focused on not shoving Greedo away, and instead focusing on humiliating him in front of his fellow bounty hunters.
Bossk was laughing. "Is that so? Then I should get the whole bounty."
Greedo moved his blaster away from Anakin's face and at Bossk. "Don't even think about it. This was my idea."
Anakin squeezed Padme's hand, silently telling her to get ready to run.
"Oh yeah? Your idea was to wait until they stumbled into our hands?" Bossk scoffed, pointing his own blaster at Greedo.
Greedo stood up.
Anakin pulled Padme under the table just in time for the door to open and several Stormtroopers to come in.
"Freeze!"
"Put the blasters down!"
Anakin and Padme took the chance to sneak out. The Stormtroopers didn't notice the couple slip by them and out the door.
They were in the alley when they heard the sound of blasters being pointed at them. They turned around to see Cad Bane pointing his blasters at them.
"I wouldn't go much further if I were you," he told them.
A Stormtrooper stepped out of the bar and saw the blasters.
"Stop!"
Anakin took advantage of the distraction. Using the Force he pushed Bane into the Stormtrooper and back into the bar.
He and Padme ran out of the alley and back into the streets. A blaster shot skimmed past their heads, startling the people around them.
Anakin shoved Padme behind a stand and looked up to see their sniper on the roof. He recognized IG-8813.
"Padme! Get out of here!" Anakin yelled over the chaos. "I'll meet you back at the house!" He ignited his lightsaber and began to deflect the shots.
"But Anakin-" Padme tried to call out before he ran off.
She saw Stormtroopers running down the streets towards Anakin. She had to help him. The street was crowded with carts and people trying to get away from the shooting. She looked at the cart next to her filled with fruits and vegetables.
It would do.
Putting in all her weight, Padme pushed the cart down in front of the troopers. Several of them tripped over it and slipped on the fallen fruit.
"Hey!" One of them noticed her.
Padme ran. She passed carts and stores until she made it out of the market area. She could hear the Stormtroopers chasing after her as she turned the corner.
Across the street, she saw a man loading up his speeder, and an idea popped in her had as she raced towards it.
000{{*}}000
Anakin deflected the blaster bolts up at the assassin droid, managing to make the droid duck for cover when he heard a crash behind him.
Looking behind, he saw that a group of Stormtroopers had tripped over a fallen cart, and Padme running away from the scene. Several of them, realizing that she was probably his accomplice chased after her.
Anakin used the Force to throw the cart back into them, but a few managed to escape him and continue their chase after Padme.
A blaster bolt slashed his left arm and Anakin gritted his teeth as he grabbed the cart and threw it at IG-8813 up on the roof. He could hear Stormtroopers calling for reinforcements, and knew he had to get out of here and find Padme.
Running down the streets, he tried to sense which direction she had gone when a stun net hit him.
000{{*}}000
Padme held on to the bottom of the speeder until it slowed down enough for her to let go. She landed with an "oof" on her back.
Looking at her surroundings she realized she was in the school district about several streets from the market. She could hide here and find her way back to the Lasara home.
Dusting herself off and seeing no Stormtroopers nearby, she went into the Legislative Youth Program building. Only when she was inside was she finally able to catch her breath.
The hallways were empty with the exception of a few cleaning droids which must have meant classes were still in cession.
She started down the halls quietly.
She stopped when she reached the wall of honor students.
It had been seventeen years since she'd been a student here, and many holopics had been added since then, but she could still find her pic when she had graduated at eleven years old. She couldn't believe how small she had been back then. The robes she wore looked big and baggy on her small frame, despite her mother and grandma's efforts. However, little Padme Naberrie wore a proud smile on her face. It had been a major stepping stone into the political world for Padme.
Looking at the other holopics of honor students who had graduated over the years, Padme found members of the Bibble and Lasara families and many other respective families of Naboo until her eyes landed on the holopics of her grandfather Luke Naberrie and her great-aunt Padme Lydonia. Her grandfather had been nineteen when he had graduated, and her aunt had been seventeen. Padme could remember how proud her family had been when she had graduated at the young age of eleven, the youngest in their family. Yet looking at her aunt and grandfather, Padme realized how young she had truly been when she graduated. The robes fitted them both perfectly, and they seemed so sure of their place in the galaxy. She noticed, looking closer at her aunt's pic the pixie comb in her hair, reminding Padme of her mission.
She tried looking for her aunt's boyfriend"Sheev" among the holopics. Maybe he could help shed some light on this mystery. Unfortunately, while many Sheevs had graduated as honor students over the years, none of them resembled the man with her aunt. He may not have graduated as an honor student. Maybe if she looked at the Program's records…
She heard voices coming around the hallway.
She couldn't risk anybody recognizing her, so she ran to the pair of doors where she remembered the auditorium being there. Opening the door, she found the auditorium dark with a dress rehearsal performing on stage.
Carefully closing the door until there was only a crack, Padme listened for the voices to pass. It was just some students being released from class. Padme let out a breath of relief. She felt exhausted both physically and mentally.
She sat down in one of the auditorium seats to rest.
The stage performers hadn't seem to have noticed her, so she watched them as they acted out the tragic tail between two lovers in the midst of the Gungan Wars. The soldier had snuck away from the war to be with his beloved, an aid to King Jafar I. The story detailed the conflict between the two lovers in their beliefs: her's in wanting to negotiate a peaceful solution with the Gungans, and his on the battlefield.
Both of Padme's grandmothers had taken her to see this play when she was young, and both women had cried when seeing it.
Deciding that it was probably safe to go out now, Padme got up and headed back towards the doors. She paused when she heard Stormtroopers outside communicating. Turning around, she noticed the door across the auditorium leading backstage. If she remembered correctly there was an exit leading outside.
Quickly as she could, she crept down the auditorium. Just when she reached the door backstage, the auditorium doors opened to reveal two Stormtroopers.
"Stop!"
She ran through the door past startled actors and to the exit door.
"Don't let her get away!"
She shut the door and blasted the lock.
"Hey!"
She turned her head and saw two Stormtroopers pointing their blaster at her.
000{{*}}000
Anakin groaned painfully as the volts of the stun net went through him. He looked up through the haze to see Bossk grinning down at him.
"Not bad Jedi. For humans the shock would have knocked them out instantly," he hissed.
Anakin tried to move, but the voltage made it difficult to move his muscles. Stormtroopers surrounded him, Captain Panaka at the head of them. "Thank you for the assistance bounty hunter, but we'll take it from here," Panaka told him as two Stormtroopers moved to intercept Anakin.
"I don't think so," the Trandoshan said, stepping on Anakin.
Anakin grunted, looking where he'd dropped his lightsaber, again.
"My bounty. You get Skywalker when I get paid," Bossk told them.
Panaka looked ready to blow a reactor. Anakin's eyes found his lightsaber several feet away, and was trying to bring it back to him when a hand picked it up.
It was Captain Typho.
"If it is indeed Skywalker you will receive your payment at the palace. If not, you will receive payment either way for capturing a Jedi for us," Typho said to him.
The bounty hunter thought for a moment before stepping off Anakin. The Stormtroopers cuffed him before taking the net off of him. He listened as Typho talked with Panaka. "We'll take him to Divo for interrogation. If he is Skywalker, maybe we can find Olin as well."
"If he is Skywalker, you'll take him straight to the Emperor," Panaka told him. "Understood?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"Get up, Scum. Move!" one of the Stormtroopers ordered Anakin.
Anakin was shoved, surrounded by four Stormtroopers and directed away from the scene.
"Yane leaves you alone for one hour and you get yourself caught," a Stormtrooper muttered next to him.
Anakin whipped his head at the trooper. "Elle?" The trooper was shorter than the average one, but he recognized Elle's presence in the Force. Stretching out with his feelings he could sense Sabe, Sache, and Motee disguised as the other Stormtroopers around him. Typho joined them as they turned the corner.
"What's the plan?" Anakin whispered.
"We're ambushed and you escape," Sabe answered in front of him.
They had reached an archway when Ferus jumped down in front of them. He kicked what must have been Sache into a nearby wall.
"Jedi!" Typho shouted.
"Blast him!" Sabe barked in a manly voice.
Ferus ignited his lightsaber and deflected their shots.
Anakin understood the reason for their performance, and elbowed Motee in the larynx before aiming a kick in Elle's stomach. He turned to Typho and used the Force to grab his lightsaber and cut his binders.
"Sorry about this," Anakin told the Captain.
"Don't worry about it. Just don't hit the teeth. I just got them fixed," Typho warned him.
Anakin grinned. With a swift punch Typho was down. He turned round to see that Ferus had cut through Sabe's blaster and Force pushed her into Motee.
"Let's go."
Anakin ran with Ferus down the streets.
"Will Panaka believe the story?" Anakin asked Ferus.
"We're hoping so. That performance was a spur of the moment idea of Sabe's. They were all at the palace when Panaka received a tip saying that Skywalker was in the market," Ferus explained.
The mole.
Anakin knew it had to be the mole within their group.
"It was the traitor. I know it," Anakin said.
Ferus didn't respond to that, but Anakin knew he agreed with him as they raced down the streets a sense of danger and urgency weighing down on them.
"Let's just get out of here before we run into anymore-"
They turned around a corner, and both men suddenly stopped as a wave of darkness hit them.
"Trouble."
Down the empty street, holding an ignited blood red lightsaber was Malorum.
000{{*}}000
One of the Stormtroopers took the blaster out of Padme's hands and tried to put a pair of binders on her.
"You're coming with us."
"For what?" Padme demanded, as her hands were placed behind her back. "I haven't done anything wrong."
"Witnesses saw you helping the Jedi down at the market and fleeing from the scene," the Stormtrooper in front of her said.
"That's absurd! I was trying to run away from him like everyone else!" Padme lied.
"We'll see when Inspector Divo questions you," the Stormtrooper behind her said, locking the binders on her wrists.
She couldn't let them take her in. Inspector Divo would recognize her and turn her in to the Emperor. She'll be used as bait for Anakin and Palpatine will find out about Luke and Leia. She couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't.
She swung around and rammed her knee into the lower half of the Stormtrooper in front of her, knocking him into several trash bins. She tried to fight the other Stormtrooper behind her, but with her hands cuffed behind her back she was at a disadvantage. She kicked, shove, and struggled with everything she had, but the armored Stormtrooper was too strong.
The Stormtrooper she had knocked down had recovered and had joined his partner in holding her down. Padme fought hard, but she realized all she was doing was bruising herself and giving herself a bad headache.
"What is going on?" a voice called out from the end of the alley.
Padme was relieved to see Dorme and Rabe.
"Trouble maker. Nothing to concern yourselves with," the trooper behind Padme told them.
"On the contrary, this is one of my clients you're harassing," Rabe said as she and Dorme stepped closer to them.
"What? With all due respect Madame, this woman was seen fleeing a crime scene-" the Stormtrooper didn't finish his sentence, and his partner didn't have time to react as Dorme and Rabe shot both men down.
Rabe got down and immediately started searching them for the key to Padme's binders.
"Vatie's workplace received a call saying there was a Jedi attack in the market area. Her boss sent her there to cover it. On the way she commed me and Rabe to keep an eye out for you and Anakin," Dorme explained.
Rabe found the key and unlocked Padme's binders. Padme rubbed her wrists as she turned to Dorme and Rabe. "Anakin and I ran into some bounty hunters then Captain Panaka's Stormtroopers. We got seperated."
"Typho commed me saying he and the others had a plan to help Anakin. They'll meet us back at the house," Dorme told her.
They left the alley quickly before anybody else saw them.
"Did Pooja tell you what you wanted to know?" Rabe asked.
"Not exactly," Padme answered. "But I think I know why Malorum wants my aunt's comb: to use it to unlock my aunt's diary."
000{{*}}000
65 bby
"I love it, Winama. Thank you," Padme thanked Winama when she opened her late Fete present: a beautiful covered diary with a special lock. The diary itself had a beautiful emblem on the front of the brown leather covering, a red flower in bloom, and in the center of it was the lock where a special jewel would fit and unlock the diary.
Winama smiled at Padme. "I had hoped you would like it. I had ordered it before Fete, but ever since the Trade Federation came, shipping has been sketchy. I thought you would like something special to write all your thoughts down, and the lock is designed specially for the jewel in your pixie comb to fit and unlock it," Winama explained.
Padme took out her comb and fixed the jewel into the lock. She heard the lock scan the jewel before it allowed her to twist it and the lock popped open.
"Wow! That's amazing. Does it scan for specific minerals?" Padme asked as she looked closer at the lock.
"It's programmed to unlock specifically with rubies like the one in your comb. An old friend of mine made it because the Republic thought his ideas were too expensive," Winama explained.
"Well, it's amazing all the same," Padme said, still in awe of the incredible gift she received. It was amazing even if it was a little excessive for a diary. Although, she could understand some politicians wanting to keep a tight lock on their most private thoughts.
She looked up at the chrono to see that her morning class would be starting in an hour. "I better get going. Thank you so much Winama," Padme thanked her as she gave her a hug.
"You're welcome, Padme. After this semester you'll be done with your internship and become a real politician," Winama said.
Padme smiled as she grabbed her bag and stepped out on her way to class. Winama was right. After this semester Padme will have graduated from the Legislative Youth Program and become an actual aid in the palace. She was both nervous and excited for it.
Ryoo had started taking evening classes on business this semester to finish her business degree, and the Naberries helped by watching Jobal for her, and Padme helped her with her studying when she could. Luckily, Ryoo would only have to attend classes until the end of that year.
Padme reached the program and headed towards her class, looking forward to it for a number of reasons.
Although Research was intended to have a lot of work in it, it would be one of those classes that prepared her for political life. Another reason was because Sheev was in it as well. Since the two weeks after the New Year and the kiss something had shifted between them. Padme wasn't certain yet if it was a good change, but for some reason she felt hope for the new year.
She entered the classroom and found a seat next to Sio Bibble. "How much longer do you have here?" she asked him.
Despite his young age, Sio was one of the most advanced and promising students in the program. "I take a couple more classes in the fall semester, I'll be qualified to become an Apprentice Legislator," Sio answered.
Padme smiled. She had been talking to Councilor Tie Bibble since the new year to know how proud he and his family were of his nephew. She wouldn't be surprised if he became king, governor, or senator one day. She hoped she herself would get far and make a difference for the people of Naboo.
Sheev came in and took a seat behind her. Before he did so, he winked at her as he passed by, and Padme felt herself blush a little. She didn't know where they stand in yet: as friends or lovers? It was so confusing.
She didn't have time to ponder further when the professor came in and began to teach.
As she took her notes she felt a tap on her shoulder. She found a scrap of folded flimsi on it and quickly took it to see what it said.
"Will you be at the Council dinner tonight?" it asked.
She took a quick glance behind her at Sheev who was writing his notes down like a good student. He looked under his eyelids at her with his blue eyes that seemed to pierce into her soul.
Padme quickly turned back to her notes before the professor saw her. What was she doing? She was a good girl who didn't pass notes under the teacher's , she couldn't help but like the thrill it gave her. Pooja did say that she needed to live a little, so why not?
She wrote down her response quickly. "Luke and Winama will be there, and knowing Lady Dragon she'll need me there to take notes for her."
She reached behind her as if she was stretching and dropped the note on his desk.
The dinner tonight would most likely be about the negotiations with the Trade Federation. Luke sometimes took Winama with him to these dinners as did many other council members with their spouses so that there would be a lighter air and more socialization at these dinners. Padme would be there to take notes for Lady Veruna as the woman tended to get drunk at these affairs.
She felt another tap on her shoulder and found another flimsi note.
"What'll you be wearing?"
She felt her cheeks blush a bit. She was still in mourning for her mother for another month, and was still wearing black and lavender. Winama was bound to have something nice and appropriate to wear in her shop that she could borrow.
She wrote back to him. 'Something pretty. You'll see."
She all of a sudden felt very excited for the dinner tonight.
000{{*}}000
She was so frustrated.
She had tried on several black and lavender dresses but none of them had felt right. For some reason she felt the need to shock Sheev like she had at the New Year Mask, but she couldn't be seen as a bimbo to the Queen and Royal Council either. The dresses she had tried either made her look like a Shirayan priestess or a slut like Regina Costil.
A knock sounded on the bedroom door. "Who is it?"
"It's me," Ryoo's voice answered.
Padme threw on a dressing gown over her shift before letting her sister in. "I thought you were getting ready for class?"
"I have another hour before I head out. I just got off the comm with Ono's parents so Ruwee and Jobal were okay to spend some time at their house until I get them after class," Ryoo explained to Padme. She looked at all the dresses Padme had gathered on top of her bed. "Winama told me you were looking for something nice to wear at dinner tonight. Does this have anything to do with Sheev Palpatine?" she asked.
Padme glared at her older sister.
Ryoo just grinned at her little sister.
Padme sighed. "Nothing feels right. I want to look pretty but professional."
Ryoo hummed. "I think I might have something that could work." She took Padme to her room.
Two hours later, Padme tried not to feel self-conscious as she entered the palace through the servants' entrance. She had hung up and was trying to ignore everyone gawking at her as she made her way to Lady Veruna's chambers with her head held high. Her sister had loaned her one of her black dresses she had gotten for Fete. It had a modest cut, but short sleeves and the fabric hugged Padme's figure comfortably. She wore black gloves that went passed her elbows with a red silk sash tied around her waist. For jewelry she wore a ruby brooch with gold trimming on a red ribbon around her neck. When she saw herself in the mirror back home, Padme had thought that she looked amazing. Now, she wondered if she should have stuck with the priestess look.
She made it to the Queen's floor when she heard raised voices coming from Lady Veruna's chambers. Ars Veruna came storming out of them, not even glancing at Padme as he passed her. Her eyes followed him until he disappeared into the turbolift before heading her way to Lady Veruna's chambers. She knocked on the door. She wasn't surprised to hear the harsh "What?!" from Lady Veruna. What did surprise her were the tears she heard in it.
"It's Padme Lydonia, My Lady," Padme answered.
A pause, and then Veruna said, "Come in Lydonia."
She slid the door open. Lady Veruna had her back to her, but her shoulders were shaking. Padme decided to give her a few moments to collect herself before speaking.
"Would you like me to fetch one of your handmaidens for you? Or would you like-"
"I can finish getting myself ready! Thank you!" Lady Veruna snapped.
Padme closed her mouth. She was silent as Lady Veruna reapplied her makeup. As she did so Padme saw in the reflection of her mirror her red rimmed eyes, and it startled her to realize that the Lady Veruna had been crying. What could Ars and Eirtae have argued about that would cause her to cry?
When she finished applying her makeup, Lady Veruna stood regally that you never would have guessed that she had been crying. Padme followed her dutifully out of her chambers and towards the dining hall.
These dinners happened about once or twice a month, usually so the Queen and Royal Council could socialize more outside the throne room, but talk still lead to politics eventually. Padme always went to these because Lady Veruna had a habit of drinking excessively, and ever since Padme began interning under her, Lady Veruna used her to collect any notes she had missed during dinner, and what people had said about her while she was intoxicated. Since she started doing this, Padme had been amazed at how much people would say while Lady Veruna was drunk and ignored Padme.
They entered the dining hall to find half of the seats at the long table filled with council members and their spouses. Near the head of the table where the Queen sat were Luke, Winama, and Tie Bibble. Farther along the table Padme saw Reggie and Regina Costil sitting next to their older brother Naul and his wife Lille and her brother Councilor Excenil. Lady Veruna and Padme were seated near Luke, Tie, and the council members most loyal to the Queen. As soon as they were seated talk immediately turned to the Trade Federation.
"The prices they are asking for our plasma is outrageous!" Tie exclaimed. Most people at the table agreed with him.
"The Queen hasn't managed to talk the Trade Federation out of trading. Soon they will go to Damask Holdings and no one will wish to trade with us," Councilor Excenil announced.
"Don't be so dramatic!" Lady Veruna scolded him. "The Trade Federation is run by a bunch of spineless fools who hide behind their droids. Damask Holdings has better sense than to work with them."
"Magister Hugo Damask isn't above using their foolishness to his advantage," Luke reminded her. "He knows how they think and how to manipulate them into his bidding."
"So what can be done?" Lille asked.
"Aren't you all overreacting to the situation?"
Everybody turned their heads to see Bon Tapalo enter the dining hall with a noblewoman Padme didn't recognize on his arm. If looks could kill Padme would bet Lady Veruna's scowl would have butchered Tapalo and his date on the spot. Behind them, by himself was Ars Veruna with a deep frown on his face.
"Overreacting?!" Luke practically shouted, standing up out of his seat, despite his wife's attempts to stop him. "Billions of Naboo lives could very well depend on this discussion in whether or not to agree in establishing trade with the Trade Federation."
Bon Tapalo raised an eyebrow. "I'm very well aware of the impact this agreement will have on not just Naboo's economy and citizens, but future generations as well. Which is why we must consider this decision carefully instead of stalling as the Queen has been doing."
"How dare you!" Padme shouted at him, standing up from her seat as well.
Silence filled the hall with a heavy curtain of tension on all its inhabitants. It was Naul Costil who broke it.
"The young lady is right. You go too far in questioning our Queen's judgement," he told Tapalo.
Tapalo bowed his head respectively to everyone. "Forgive me, Councilor Naberrie, young Miss. I meant no disrespect to Her Royal Highness; only concern for our planet's future stability."
Padme sat back down in her seat, focusing her attention on her plate. She could feel her cheeks reddening in embarrassment for her outburst, and from the corner of her eye she noticed the same with Luke. his face was flushed with anger and shame for allowing Tapalo to bait him and lose his temper in front of half of the Royal Council.
After Tapalo, his date, and Ars Veruna sat down, Regina spoke, "Do you believe Councilor Tapalo that we should agree to the Trade Federation's demands and pay our miners less than what they deserve?"
"We're not saying that," Veruna objected. "We believe that in time as demand for our plasma goes up we can raise the selling prices for our plasma."
"You're both fools to think the Trade Federation will ever agree to that," Reggie told him.
"Big fools indeed."
Cosinga Palpatine entered the dining hall, his wife Lady Dreann Palpatine at his arm, and their eldest son Sheev behind them. They sat across from Padme and Lady Veruna. Padme's eyes meet Sheev's and he winked at her. She felt herself blush a little.
Within the next several minutes the rest of the dinner party came in. Bon Tapalo's brother Governor Toun Tapalo and his wife Mate came in followed by Secretary Bowen then Senator Jeze Maddox wit President Tolemi Cesate of the Refugee Relief Movement, and finally Princess Viola Blantyre of Theed.
The last person caught Padme's attention. Princess Blantyre was the younger sister of Captain Blantyre of the palace guard and around the same age as Padme, and had been elected at the age fourteen a year-and-a-half ago. When Padme had first seen her, interning under Lady Veruna she had seen the strong and confident girl expected of a Princess of Theed and sister to a guard captain. However, tonight she looked shaken up even though she tried to mask it from everyone, but Padme could see her red rimmed eyes like she had been crying, her unsteady steps as she walked, and the haunted expression in her eyes. What had happened to her?
Before she could contemplate further, Captain Blantyre came into the hall to announce the Queen in.
"Her Royal Highness Queen Celestine."
Everyone rose from their seats as the Queen entered, followed by her entourage of handmaidens and bodyguards. Despite the heavy gown and elaborate headdress, Celestine seemed to float across the room with head held high, impressing Padme who sometimes had to worry about tripping over her feet in the simplest dresses.
When the Queen reached her seat at the head of the table she motioned everyone to sit down. Once they returned to their seats, serving droids came and delivered the first course of the meal: pea soup.
As Padme sipped her soup she kept her ears open to the conversations around her. Because the Queen was now present any talk about the Trade Federation and Damask Holdings was put on hold, and nobody had drank enough blossom wine to loosen their tongues yet. For now polite conversation was focused on families and businesses.
Padme looked up from her dish and met the blue eyes of Sheev Palpatine once again. He smiled at her, and Padme returned it. However, when the droids set out the second course of goober fish she realized Cosinga Palpatine had noticed the exchange.
"So Miss Lydonia, where exactly does your family reside?" he asked in a casual manner, but Padme could feel his gaze sizing her up. Sheev was glaring at his father, and Padme felt Lady Palpatine's eyes on her as she remained silent.
"Up in the village of Claines. My family has lived there since the Gungan Wars, and are respected members of the community," she told him proudly. He may be a sorry excuse for a noble, husband, and father, but she would not let him make her feel ashamed of where she come from.
"Claines? Interesting. How is it you came to know the Naberries?"
Padme knew he was trying to undermine her in front of the Royal Court so she had to be careful with what she said. Some nobles looked down on peasants who were only able to come into politics because of scholarships.
"We've been friends for a long time," Padme told him honestly.
It was the truth. Winama and Ryoo had been friends since childhood, and when Winama married Luke he became a friend to them as well.
Palpatine nodded, frowning a bit. "I see."
Nothing else was said the rest of the course as they finished and moved on to the next. With each course, the mood seemed to become more laxed the more wine people drank. Padme looked around the dining hall during the final course of dessert which consisted of surra fruit and shaak milk cheese.
The Queen's guards and handmaidens surrounded the area around the table, keeping an eye out on everyone. Captain Blantyre kept his eyes on the Queen. He was a good looking man in his late twenties with a strong chin and hazel eyes like his sister's. Something about his gaze intrigued Padme. She had seen the way guards look over the people they guarded and protected, but she was pretty sure they didn't look at them the same way lovers looked at one another. Sure, she wasn't experienced in the field of romance, but she had seen people look at someone as if they were their whole existence, and that's exactly the way Captain Blantyre was looking at Queen Celestine. She wondered what it would be like if someone loved her like that.
After finishing with dessert the Queen ended the dinner by leading everyone into one of the palace parlors for cafe. Padme hadn't even been in there for half an hour when she felt the need for some fresh air, not able to take any more of Lady Tapalo's prattling or Senator Maddox's snarkiness. Lady Veruna was actually more sober once she drank some cafe and ate a few crumpets, so Padme felt confident in leaving her while she got some fresh air.
The palace halls were dark and empty aside from the occasional guard patrolling them. In the dark the halls looked intimidating, but impressive all the same. After interning here for several months, Padme no longer felt like she could easily get lost in these halls.
She was contemplating on going to the palace's greenhouse when she heard voices ahead around the corner coming towards her. The voices seemed angry, and Padme did not want to be caught in an awkward, compromising position so she hid behind one of the pillars.
Both arguing voices sounded male, and Padme was a little surprise to see that it was Ars Veruna and Reggie Costil.
"Don't turn your back on to me Costil!" she heard from Veruna. She thought he must have grabbed Costil because both men stopped right next to her pillar.
She covered her mouth to hide the sound of her breathing and was glad for once that she was wearing black.
"This is none of your concern, Ars," Costil hissed at him.
"It is when it's my credits you're borrowing!" Veruna shot back.
Padme's eyes widened a bit. What was this all about?
"I promised you I would pay it back as soon as I was able to," Costil said to him. "Don't push me because I'll push back."
Veruna laughed coldly.
Padme felt extremely uncomfortable with this. Costil was borrowing credits off of Veruna? For what?
"How are you going to do that? Use my mother against me?" Veruna demanded."Half of the court already knows she's been whoring herself with Bon."
"No, but I'm sure your mystery girl wouldn't mind giving me a hand. How old is she? Fifteen? Sixteen? You like the younger crowds," Costil shout back.
There was silence and Padme was glad that she had covered her mouth otherwise they would have heard her gasp. Ars Veruna was seeing a teenager? He had to be thirty years old. The legal age on Naboo was more strict than other planets at the age of twenty-one instead of seventeen, but if word got out that Ars Veruna was sleeping with a teenager, his reputation would not only be ruined, he could be arrested for child molestation. Who was the poor girl he was doing this to?
Veruna seemed to be seething. "Don't overplay your hand, Reggie. You forget I could tell Naul, Regina, and even Palpatine about your gambling sprees. I doubt they'd be willing to bail you out."
A silent pause.
Padme couldn't believe what she was hearing. Did Costil have such a huge gambling debt he was desperate to hide it from his siblings and political partner?
She heard him take a deep breath. "I just need a little more time. As soon as I'm able to I'll pay you back. Just don't say anything to them."
They walked away, leaving Padme alone in the dark once more. Padme was stoned shock at what she had just heard. Veruna was having an affair with an underage person, and Costil had such a gambling debt he was so desperate to hide he let him get away with it. While she knew the gambling wasn't as severe as having sex with a minor it could be catastrophic if it was illegal. She didn't know how long she stood there in the dark, thoughts of what she had just heard going through her head.
"Padme?"
A small shriek escaped her as she spun around, had on her racing heart. Relief instantly filled her when she realized that it was only Sheev. In the darkness she could tell the concern look on his face.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Y-Yeah," she answered a little shaky. She cleared her throat and said a little more confidently, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just… I thought I was all alone here."
She didn't know why she didn't tell him. After all there were many scandals here in court that he must have heard of, but if she told him he'd probably think she was being silly.
Sheev didn't look like he believed her, but she was grateful that he didn't press her.
"How did you find me?" she asked him.
"One of the Queen's handmaidens named Pooja told me you had headed in this direction and I followed the rest," he answered with a shrug. "The night's getting late, and I thought I'd take you home.
Padme smiled. "I'd like that, thank you."
After grabbing her cloak, Sheev took Padme to his speeder his father had gotten him.
"Hang on tight," he told her with a grin.
Padme shrieked and laughed as they flew through the air and streets of Theed. Exhilaration raced through her veins as Sheev laughed along with her. However, despite the thrill and fun she was having, she couldn't forget the things she had heard that night. She had to tell someone, but who?
000{{*}}000
Whew! That all took longer to type out than I thought. I hope I peeked everyone's interest again. Let me know how all you feel about this chapter. Finals are coming so I can't guarantee when the next chapter will be up.
I'm so pumped up for the Solo movie coming out next month, and the new Jurassic World the month after!